Hong Kong clinches thrilling WT20 warm-up victory
Campbell took 2-10 off three overs bowling off-spin and scored 46 off 42 balls to help Hong Kong to a nail-biting one-wicket win in Dharamsala.
“It feels really good to be honest," Campbell said.
"For me, it is a big risk for me to be here and it is a big risk for Hong Kong to be playing me."
"So it always feels good to show that you can do it."
After choosing to field, Hong Kong were on the back foot when HPCA scored 20 from the first over, but two wickets to Adil Mehmood (2-18) helped peg the home side back.
At the end of powerplay HPCA had reached 3-55, but a wicket to Nadeem Ahmed (3-15) and a run-out put Hong Kong in the box seat.
As HPCA tried to rebuild the innings Campbell was introduced into the attack and picked up two wickets in his very first over to hammer home Hong Kong’s advantage - an event that was surprising even to Campbell himself.
“To get a couple of wickets is quite unbelievable, I never thought I would even bowl, but these things happen, and I think I got a bit excited on my first wicket – I’ve never done it before for Hong Kong."
"If I manage to sneak one in at the World Twenty20, I will be very, very happy.”
Nadeem finished the innings off in the 19th over to give Hong Kong a target of just 106 to win.
But the chased proved to be anything but easy as Hong Kong lost Jamie Atkinson (8) and Babar Hayat (0) in the second over.
Campbell and Chapman (22 off 23) then steadied and appeared to have HK in a commanding position at 2-77.
But in a spectacular collapse, Hong Kong lost 7-24 and required five to win off the last over with just one wicket remaining.
That equation came down to one run required off the last ball - with a Nadeem Ahmed boundary bringing a feeling of relief to the dressing room.
“It got a bit dicey and that is what happens with a young team, but we’ll learn from that," Campell said.
"I think the team is very happy to win the game. There’s a really good feeling, and I feel like we are ready to go - there’s genuine excitement there.”
The match is Hong Kong’s final warm-up ahead of their World Twenty20 opener against Zimbabwe on March 8.
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